Christmas Cottages Recipe

To put a simple spin on the traditional gingerbread houses, we used purchased chocolate graham crackers. Make the "houses" ahead as an edible centerpiece, or let little elves assemble their own during your Christmas party. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Directions

Cut a small hole in the corner of pastry or plastic bag; insert #4 round pastry tip. Fill the bag with chocolate frosting. Pipe frosting on the short edges of two triangles; attach two squares. Repeat three times. Let stand until set, about 1 hour. Frost roofs with vanilla frosting and decorate with candies as desired.

For short cottages, break four graham crackers in half, forming eight squares. Pipe chocolate frosting along one side of front of cottage and the adjoining side wall. Place walls at right angles to each other. Repeat with second side section and back. Repeat for second cottage. Let stand until set.

For tall cottages, using whole crackers, pipe chocolate frosting along a long side of front of cottage and the adjoining side wall. Place walls at right angles to each other. Repeat with second side section and back. Repeat for second cottage. Let stand until set.